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August 27, 2012

After our peach picking excursion there was a peach-blackberry cobbler, peach smoothies and peach butter. I had it on my to-do list to make before leaving for Michigan to visit family. However, my to-do list was way to long as always and I did not have time to make the peach butter myself. So the "handsome hubby" stepped in and made it instead.

Boy was I grateful!!! I didn't want the peaches to go to waste and these made wonderful family/hostess gifts.

I went shopping for the perfect fabric to cover the jars and came across this sweet, little, floral print. I had already purchased the ribbon at Marshalls a while back off of an end cap at the checkout. I'm a push-over for crafty accoutrements. I knew I would use it eventually.

The label originally began as a tag but I didn't like the end results. My oldest daughter was aiding me in assembly and had the idea to tuck it underneath the ribbon. Kudo's to her because it was the best solution and I love how the jar packaging turned out.

It took quite a lot of peaches to make this batch but it was so yummy! I found a recipe from Smitten Kitchen and was sold when I saw that she used less sugar than what is normally called for in fruit butters. I wanted to taste the fruit and not be overwhelmed by sugar and it was wonderful. I highly recommend this recipe if you venture out into peach butter making.

In honor of my husband's hard work I designed this graphic to put on a t-shirt. I laughed and laughed and laughed! Sometimes I'm the only one that laughs at me and my hubby finds that humorous.
He wore the shirt with pride! I have to also say that I have only made freezer jams etc... in the past because I've been scared to can, afraid I may ruin an entire batch of whatever it is I'm making.

He had no fear whatsoever and filled and sealed all these jars like a pro!!! I'm telling you he's my secret weapon and definitely deserves to be "Buttered Up" for his time intensive efforts. Making peach butter is not for wimps! I'm just sayin'!!!

Can't wait to can some more stuff. We will be apple picking this fall as well as visiting the pumpkin patches. We can never just go to one pumpkin patch. I love the hayrides and finding the perfect display pumpkins for the front porch. I might have to give pumpkin butter a try. I love anything pumpkin flavored.

I had lots and lots of summer project ideas that I was never able to get to due to just being plain busy and overwhelmed with kiddo's and work. I have already been making a mental list of fall projects I'd like to attempt. We'll see if I'm able to do so.

I'll be back to share the label graphics for peach butter and a few more fruit butters just in case you'd like to label your very own jars to give as gifts.

August 3, 2012

I recently shared some photo's with you from a raspberry picking excursion and here I am again except this time it's peaches.

The two wee ones spotted this ladder and headed straight for it. Never mind the fact that there were no peaches in these trees. They had been picked clean. But so glad the kids did because it was a perfect picture taking opportunity. My little "Bussy" looks like she's on the lookout for others that might want to get in on the ladder fun.

My orchard hands are to stinkin' cute!!! That's all I'm saying.

I usually try to keep the bright colors in all of my photo's but in the peach orchard shots I used the Pioneer Woman's, Soft and Faded Action. It was a warm sunny day and the I think this applied action gives all the images that lazy, hazy day appearance.

Jupiter peaches otherwise known as Donut peaches. They taste less acidic to me and have a really mild, sweet flavor. These trees were loaded down with beautiful, ripe, peachy goodness.

My oldest beauty, posing for a picture just as I asked, with our little Wini and my son in the background. They were getting hot at this point.

Wini's first time in a peach orchard. She tried to eat all the rotting peaches on the ground. Luckily my oldest was mindful and didn't let her.

One more ladder shot. I love these memory saving opportunities.

So I haven't been posting much this summer. I've honestly been overwhelmed with all of the kids being at home, a garden that has needed a lot of attention, flowers that need watering, family vacations and trying to fit in as much activity and fun as possible.

For instance this is just a small portion of our summer harvest...

and I've had to figure out what to do with all of them. So I made a wonderful tomato soup x6 batches and froze it. I used a recipe a friend of mine created and it is divine! She creates and makes her own spice blends, vegan chili, natural lollipops and lots more. The recipe calls for her Bangarang spice and it's the perfect addition. Get some of your very own and she just might share the recipe with you too. In addition to the soup—I've made homemade salsa, I've frozen several tomatoes to use through the year in crockpot dishes and I've still got more.

Add to all of this my oldest daughters riding lessons and a handful of horse shows and I've been in overdrive all summer.

She took home a second place ribbon in the pairs class this past Tuesday. She's so new to showing and most of the girls in the ring have been riding and competing since they were toddlers so for her to take home a second in any class is really nice.

Here's a pic of my daughter and the other girl that participated in the pairs class with her. Her friend rode a horse named Skye who is also a paint. It's uncanny how much these two horses resemble each other.

The object of pairs is to do everything the judge requests riding side by side. Which translates to...trot at the exact same time, canter at the exact same time, reverse at the exact same time while staying knee to knee etc... There were two other pairs in the ring at the same time. This is the closest thing to teamwork in the show ring that she's done and Liv really had a grand time. Everything is more fun when you have someone to laugh with while doing it.

This fall the farm she rides at is putting together an interschool riding team. I'm not really familiar with all it entails or the expense that comes along with it but I believe I'm going to let her join.

p.s. I've had several inquiries about my bike basket liners. I'm still making them but I've been so busy that my time at the sewing machine has been limited. I really have to figure out how to manage it all, what to let go of, what to move ahead with. No one can do it all but I still wish I could.

...the blogger behind Blue Sky Confections & a graphic designer by trade. You can check out some of my work at "O" Design Factory. I've also got an Etsy shop that I hope to grow but time always seems to elude me.